, 1887-12-08
Our Dangerous" waters.

! II iOSGl "IItSI Has GHlS lO says: Int
entrance to the straits of F'uca is ac
knOwledged to be perfectly safe
There Is put one harbor as easy to en-,
ter on the coast of the United States
Hampton Roads. There are many
masters we'll known here and else
where, who have sailed in and out o.
these STRAITS for the past twenty
years and have never met with an &C
cldent. The straits are from nine Il
eleven miles wide and eighty mile.
long IN an east and west direction
The sailing direction to the entrance
of the straits, referred to in the Van
couver Pilot, complied from the sur
veys of many of the most reliable
naval officers, describe it as remark
ably free from danger, its shores may
be approached safely within hall
mile, etc" The report of the naval
board, which convened last week in
the British consulate's office, to en-
quire into the loss of the fine British
ship iron ship Duchess of Argyle
wrecked on the Vancouver coast
near the entrance to the inland sea,
was composed of British subjects
presided over by their consul. II
was called to enquire into the causes
of the los of the vessel, and to ascer,
tain whether the captain was in any
way responsible for it. After obtain.
ing from him and his officers, aided
by the log book, full particulars, the
members of the board, all being
strangers to these parts, report as
follows:
That the master has navigated his
vessel in a seamanlike manner, and,
in their Judgment, the loss of the
vessel is attributed to the strong cur
rent across the outlet of the Straits
of Fuca. The court directs the at
tention of the board of trade of Lon
don to the dangerous coast between
Bouila point and the harbor of San
Juan, and thereon make certain re-
commendations in order that Captain
Heard, of the ill-fated ship Duchess
of Argyle, may have no bleme at
taehed to him, and retain his certifi-
cate of competency. This action OF
the honorable board in saving their
countrynan from censure is really
commendable, and if it was not for
the Injurious blow directed at the
interest of Puget Sound and British
Columbia, the writer would let this
matter rest. But are we to allow
these gentlemen to publish broadcast
that the entrance to the straits OF
Fuca is dangerous TO shipping? Must
we remain silent and permit the Lon
don board of trade to pass resolutions
warming owners of vessels of British
merchant marine from chartering to
load at British Columbia and Puget
Sound ports on account of the very
dangerous entrance7 Must we, by
our Indifference, lend ourselves as a
party to injure the reputation tLess
waters have always had of being
easy of entrance and perfectly free
from danger-simply to shield from
blame the old and respected friend
of the honorable board? Or shall we
in turn recommend that certain reso-
lutions be passed by the boards OF
trade of the cities bordering on the
waters of Puget Sound and British
Columbia, directed to the presiding
officer of the London board of trade,
enclosing n copy of the masters re-
port of the loss of the Duchess OF
Argyle with the
FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATIONS:
First-That the masters of British
vessels, in making the entrance OF
the Straights of E'uca, shall use the
common precautions required of any
careful master.
Second when he is beset by
head winds and fogs, with dull sail.
ing vessel with a foul bottom and un'
able to perform such evolutions pre-
venting her from beating to the wind
ward, he remain outside, free from
the influence of currents.
Third-That if as In the of the
Duchess of Argyle, where Pilot Henry
McAlmond, ten hours before the ves-
sol struck and before darkness over
took her, offered to pilot the vessel
into a safe anchorage in Neah Bay,
for the small sum of S25, he avail
himself Of the services of pilot.
1t is hoped that our principal mill
owners and representatives of the
mining interests of Puget Sound and
British Columbia, and In fact anyone
in any way connected in any enter
Prise to further the interest of the
communities lnhabiting the shores of
our inland sea, take sach action that
may relieve us from blame in the loss
of the Duchess of Argyle. and en-
courage ship owners in sending their
ships to our ports.